Adolescent Medicine

Adolescent medicine specialists are health care providers that focus their medical practice on caring for young people. We start seeing patients between ages 12 and 18 and continue to provide care through age 21. The adolescent team at Blank Children's Hospital works with teens and young adults to help them begin to take responsibility for their own health by providing guidance on risk-taking behaviors.

The adolescent medicine specialists offer preventive guidance while providing routine health exams. We address normal changes that occur physically and emotionally during puberty as well as helping teens understand these changes and the feelings they may experience during this time. Our team also provides guidance to parents on setting limits, recognizing problem behavior and developing better communication skills with their teen.

Our providers

About the Adolescent Clinic

The adolescent medicine specialists practice in the Blank Children's Adolescent Clinic which is dedicated to teens and young adults, and is designed to meet all of their health care needs. When it comes to the teen years, things are not always as smooth sailing as we'd like them to be. From friends and family to school, sports and music, life is full of fun and good times, but it's also a time of change and challenges. Our providers see teens for sports physicals, routine health exams, illnesses and school-related problems. We are here to listen and help teens develop healthy habits for a lifetime.

Blank Children's Pediatric Clinic in Des Moines has been awarded recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home Program.